Bridgend Ravens welcome table topping Cardiff to the Dunraven Brewery Field on Saturday afternoon for their penultimate Super Rygbi Cymru home match of the season (2:30pm). 

The Ravens are currently occupying the final automatic playoff place and face a tricky final three matches in their bid to stay there. Cardiff are the first hurdle ahead of Baldwin’s side before ties against fellow play-off challenger Carmarthen and current Champions Llandovery.

Bridgend were disappointing in last week’s defeat at Ciner Glass Community Stadium against Ebbw Vale, with a disastrous ten minutes before half time effectively sealing victory for Jason Strange’s Steelmen. It ended as a 48pts to 17 defeat, with Head Coach Scott Baldwin making clear in his post match reflections that Bridgend need to be better against the capital side if they’re to get a result this weekend.

Cardiff went back to the top of the table with a scintillating 44pts to 22 victory over Aberavon at Talbot Athletic Ground last weekend.

The sides have met twice this season – Cardiff winning the reverse league encounter 47pts to 17, and Bridgend winning the Super Rygbi Cymru tie 27pts to 19 at the Brewery.

For Saturday’s match, Bridgend are without their regional contingent in its entirety so opportunity knocks for the wider squad. Jake Thomas, Edd Howley and Cameron Ellis make up an exciting back three, with Mccauley Rowley moving into midfield alongside Tommy Morgan. Lloyd Wilkins, having impressed on debut against Newport in January, gets a start at 10. Harvey Nash is at 9.

Evan Yardley is back from injury to take his place in the front row alongside Harry Olding and Liam Tobias. Travis Huntley and James Owen continue in the second row, with Thomas Jevons captaining the side from 8 in a back row with Kyle Harris and Alfie Llewellyn.

There’s a new name amongst Bridgend’s replacements in tighthead prop Owen Hatherill. Owen has previously played for Ebbw Vale and Glamorgan Wanderers, and age grade rugby at u16s and u18s for Cardiff Rugby. He will be hoping to make his debut on Saturday afternoon.

Bridgend Ravens XV: 15. Edd Howley 14. Cameron Ellis 13. Mccauley Rowley 12. Tommy Morgan 11. Jake Thomas 10. Lloyd Wilkins 9. Harvey Nash

1. Harry Olding 2. Evan Yardley 3. Liam Tobias 4. Travis Huntley 5. James Owen 6. Alfie Llewellyn 7. Kyle Harris 8. Thomas Jevons (capt)

Replacements: 16. Corey Lewis 17. Tom Richardson 18. Owen Hatherill 19. Dylan Burrows 20. Ioan Pascoe 21. Chris Williams 22. Ben Burnell 23. Corum Nott